Graduates - What Do They Earn, Where Do They Work?

Recent graduates often ask us for information about how buoyant the job market is in their sector; is now a good time to look for work, or is it best to keep studying for a Masters or a PhD? You can keep yourself informed simply by keeping an eye on current job vacancies, but another good starting point to inform yourself of current graduate salaries and in particular what people are earning in your sector.

A good source of information is http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk ; don’t let the title put you off, it’s not just for undergraduates or younger, there’s plenty of information on the site about how graduate jobs and salaries are trending. The careers section has some statistics on how much graduates are earning and where they end up after their degree.

It’s reassuring to note the increasing gap between graduate and non-graduate employees for those careers at the top of the list. Graduate chemical engineers, for example, now earn nearly twice as much as non-graduates. Only two years ago, a degree in that subject would only earn you an extra 20% over non-graduate employees. Those higher paid (and higher in demand) roles also enjoy the highest pay rises; there’s been a 13% increase in average salaries for chemical engineers, whilst those working in the biological sciences have seen their salaries increase by only 6%.